🔗 Share this article

If Viktor Gyökeres develops into the attacker that each Arsenal fans have been hoping for, then maybe they will recall this night as the juncture his fortune shifted. According to the classic forward’s saying, it doesn’t matter how they hit the back of the net.

On the back of nine matches for club and country without a goal and expectations rising on the man brought in for a substantial sum in the close season, a huge wave of relief washed over the Emirates Stadium when Gyökeres guided in from close range via a deflection off David Hancko during a electrifying second half when Mikel Arteta’s side proved yet again that they mean business this season.

Remarkable Shift in Fortune

Within moments and to the delight of the home faithful, his face-covering routine modeled after the villain Bane in Batman, whose catchphrase is “attention came only with the disguise,” was showcased again after bundling over from Gabriel Magalhães’s header following a Declan Rice corner to finish the demolition against Atlético Madrid. On the sidelines, Arteta raised his fists and motioned emphatically in the direction of his recent signing, of whom he has spent the last fortnight insisting the finest displays lay ahead.

“Such is soccer, and we shouldn’t anticipate a player to change contexts and have him do the same thing instantly,” the Arsenal manager remarked in a conversation with the Spanish newspaper Marca before this game. “Circumstances vary greatly. Every footballer globally need one thing: their state of mind to be at its peak. I advised Viktor in our introductory chat that the center forward I sought for Arsenal was someone who could remain strong psychologically when they faced a goal drought without scoring. Failing that, you’re not cut out at this tier. That’s why I have a lot of faith in him.”

Early Challenges

It was as a 14-year-old playing for IFK Aspudden-Tellus, who are based in Stockholm’s outskirts, that Gyökeres first understood he would have to toughen up to make it in his chosen profession. Criticised after a subpar outing by a coach who said he didn’t have the mentality to succeed in elite soccer, he ultimately switched from a wide player into a striker after signing for Brommapojkarna two years later. “Those words lingered and I think about it often,” he said in a recent interview.

Testing Period

Without a goal since the win over Nottingham Forest in London back on 13 September, this has been one of the toughest stretches of his time in football. Gyökeres was sharply rebuked after Sweden were beaten by Kosovo and Switzerland in World Cup qualifiers in the last two weeks, with one newspaper labeling his display against the latter as “unnoticeable.”

He managed an astounding 54 goals in 52 appearances across all competitions for Sporting last season, so the issue is clearly not his scoring ability. As Arteta has frequently pointed out, his overall contribution has added a new layer in offense, even if the opportunities have not been in his favor.

Game Analysis

This was certainly in evidence during the initial 45 minutes of this high‑quality encounter between two teams that had originally looked evenly matched. There was a impression that Gyökeres was trying too hard to stand out as he bustled about like a bull in a china shop during the beginning phase. An Eberechi Eze shot that glanced on to the bar inside the initial stages was originated from some sharp footwork on the edge of the Atlético area that cleverly escaped from his marker, José María Giménez.

The Uruguayan has the reputation of a man who could provoke conflict anywhere but is highly seasoned at this level compared with Gyökeres, who is competing in merely his second Champions League campaign after scoring a hat-trick for Sporting against Manchester City last season that probably significantly contributed to influencing Arteta to take the plunge.

Unyielding Drive

Nevertheless having faced scrutiny that he was overweight after being absent for preparations in Portugal, Arsenal’s noticeably leaner striker pursued each opportunity as if his future was at stake. Giménez was tricked into conceding a yellow card when Gyökeres ran into him on the edge of the Atlético area having only been stationary. Gabriel Martinelli saw his attempt canceled for offside after finishing Bukayo Saka’s cross and it did not happen until later that the Swede had his first sight of goal.

A brilliant pass from Martinelli created an ideal chance, only for Jan Oblak to swiftly block an weak effort towards goal. At that stage it must have felt like the breakthrough would not arrive. But the goals flowed when Gabriel headed home Rice’s free-kick and Gyökeres was able to take full advantage as the forward with the disguise left his imprint. “Hopefully this is the start of some beautiful sequences,” said a delighted Arteta.